The Future of N64 Collecting

[Tritoch]

Now that the system's pretty much cleared out of all retail outlets, what do you see as the future for N64 collecting? Do you think that N64 games will hold their current value (on eBay and just in general), or do you think that they'll drop further before rebounding a bit? Which of the "rare" and popular N64 titles (Ogre Battle, Indiana Jones, the Blockbusters, etc.) stand a good chance of increasing in value, and which do you think the bottom will fall out from under? Will sealed games like Paper Mario, Ogre Battle, Indy, Hybrid Heaven, etc. one day reach Panzer Saga/Suikoden II levels, or are they doomed to remain at or below original retail?

Basically, how bright do you think the future of N64 collecting is?

[Britboy]

I don't understand why so many stores like toysRus are still selling N64 for full price, it's crazy. I'd like to collect more N64 (only have about 40 now), but not until prices come down some more.

Hopefully a few years from now will see the prices bottom out then start climbing again.

[Raedon]

going to be a great system to collect for.

1) There are not 1200 titles :) just a few hundred
2) Several "Exclusive" carts not released in stores
3) several rare carts, but I would think 90% are findable at a reasonable price.
4) Cart system, no moving parts. will be around and working probably after your pushing up daisys.
5) Several system variants, Atomic's and pokemon themed
6) it's a Nintendo

[CrazyImpmon]

And #7: it's the last cartridge based console (excluding portables)

I don't see price going up anytime soon with the possible exception of the collector version of Zelda 64 (gold, limited run) and a few store exclusives.

[TougherToast]

I just picked up Conkers Bad Fur Day at Toys R Us the other day for $9.99 :D Not bad eh!!!

[Gunstarhero]

I think the N64 will be a good system to collect for, and like someone else mentioned, I can't believe the prices stores are sticking with on these carts. I try to stop and WalMart, or other places once in awhile to see if the n64 stuff is buyable, and nope, its still full retail price.

Starcraft 64 has fetched the most money on ebay as far as I know, I seen one go for 90$. Also, Mario Party 2 seems to be worth some money, but I don't know why.

[Charlesaway]

Try buying a copy of Mario Party 3, Mario Party 2, Paper Mario, etc.. around here used, and they will run you between $50 and $90 CDN. I'm not kidding. That's without the box or inst.

[portnoyd]

I'll get into N64 collecting eventually. The prices have a ways to go however....

[kainemaxwell]

The games my TRU had (still selling at mostly full price) were Bad Fur Day, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, various wrestling titles and Pokemon Snap.

[Nature Boy]

I've been waiting for N64 prices to drop for awhile now. I really believe they will. If retailers don't drop their prices they're going to be stuck with their inventory, and no retailer (except for those who gouge for older stuff anyway) is going to want that.

[Atari7800]

if only nintendo had seen feet to put their nice heavy n64 games in decent plastic boxes. but of course they have used and insisted upon cardboard ever since the days of the nes. thats whats so nice about the master system, psx, dc, SOME of the genesis, and the next-generation consoles. nice plastic boxes that can be interchanged if you mess one up. even the saturn with its huge plastic cases is easy just switch out the busted up hingeless case for dragon force with a nice new case from fighting vipers or some other game thay made a million of and viola you have a perfect fragon force.

aside from that i think the n64 will be collectible for all the reason mentioned above mainly the fact that its a cart based system and that some of the games are really good. it was the first system for a lot of young kids and as they grow older and have more disposable income they will collect for the system they first had.

[YoshiM]

Nintendo carts tend to keep their retail price well after a system has died. The cost for them is probably high, so retail stores aren't going to slash prices too low. I remember seeing Super Mario RPG selling for $59.95 at Wal-Mart months after the N64 was released.

The N64 is very collectable, it's just funny how the pricing works. Take a more rare game like Razor Freestyle Scooter. It's hard to find online and in auctions and typically sells between $15-$25. Now take a game like Spider-Man. It's available everywhere, so it ain't rare, and typically sells for about $40 to $50 USED. That's just whacked. I'm thinking this pricing will balance out after the N64 has been in the grave for a couple more years or so.

[Raedon]

I still check my local Software etc./gamestop at least once a week as they have pricing very low for some items. Like Mario 64 may still go for 34.99, I got Clay Fighter 63 1/3 sculpters cut for 9.99 and games like WWF --- they have for .99-1.99! same with old sports titles. Hell I picked up Penny Racers there for $12.99 and Mychif Makers for $6.99

[christianscott27]

i'm still kicking myself for not buying that indiana jones and the infernal machine cart when i saw it for $12...something tells me this ones gonna be really collectible. but the system as whole seems to be going down fast in terms of interest and price. i dont think people feel the love for it the way they did the SNES and NES, in fact its carts are edging down towards the same price range as SNES carts at gamestops. my feeling on this system is that it will never be as fondly remember as the other nintendo platforms because it never dominated its market, face it if you were a kid in the last 5 years you know the playstation was the console you really wanted.
________
PUBLIC SEX (http://www.fucktube.com/categories/35/public/videos/1)

[autobotracing]

actually that what im mainly collecting now is n64 and dc games I have over 20 n64 carts and Ive had as many as 30 at one time.I like picking up the cheapy sports games for a buck or 2

[Tritoch]

@christianscott - I'm debating right now whether I should open up my sealed Indiana Jones (kinda want to play it, but not too badly) or not.

Wow, I never realized there was still so much N64 at retail. I haven't seen any around here in a long time outside of the speciality shops.

[Six Switch]

I have about 30 games for the system but will really start to collect for it once the prices go down.The games are carts so you know what that means,might be some time before prices go down.I just hope they go down soon.Blockbuster seems to be selling most of their games off for $10-$15. :D x_x

[kainemaxwell]

Most expensive N64 game at my babagges is Super Smash Bros for $34, then Zelda: OoT and MM for $24-ish. Cheapest are the NFL Quaterback Club games for less then $2.

[kevincure]

As for prices, here are the ones I have on my list that go for a bit; first number is cart only, second is complete:

Harvest Moon 64 - 50 (70)
Hydro Thunder - 25 (35)
Indy Jones - 15 (30)
Kirby Crystal Shards - 30 (40)
Mario Tennis - 23 (30)
Ogre Battle 64 - 20 (30)
Paper Mario - 20 (30)
Pokemon Stadium 2 - 27 (41)
Scooby Doo - 20 (35)
Spiderman - 36 (55)
Starcraft - 31 (45)
The New Tetris - 35 (50)
Worms Armageddon - 30 (40)
Zelda: Majora's - 20 (31)
Zelda: TOOT Gold - 15 (30)

These prices are low end - I sold a complete Spiderman for 60 and a sealed Poke 2 for 71 a couple weeks ago. For collectibility, the problem with 64 is that nothing is that rare, even the BB games. There's no real Holy Grail, like PDS or DB GT or Star Fox Super Weekend. The other problem is that, while there are no *very* expensive games, there are a bunch of "sorta" expensive games - in the 10-15 solo and 20-25 complete range, which is too much. Almost any DC game can be had complete for 20-25.

[portnoyd]

The main problem with N64 right now, and this I saw at Funco, is that N64 is on full shovelware patrol. The parents come in and buy this and that to shut their kid up, so there is still a strong market for it. Nintendo based titles will always sell, and even more appealing to parents who know little to nothing about games. I expect a plummet drop soon because this is the last cart system. (Maybe, maybe not).

dave